Alaska Airlines: Everett Paine Field flights will begin Feb. 11

This photo provided by Alaska Airlines shows an Embraer E175 of affiliate Horizon Air at Paine Field in Everett, Washington.(Photo: Alaska Airlines)

There will be commercial airline flights at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, by mid-February.

Alaska Airlines announced that its flights there will begin on Feb. 11, when it launches a planned schedule of 18 daily round-trip flights between Everett and eight West Coast cities. Tickets are now on sale on the routes, with promotional fares as low as $39 one way.

Though Paine Field is home to Boeing’s widebody a ssembly line and has some general aviation flights, it has been decades since the airport last had regular commercial passenger service.

With that change of heart by Southwest, Alaska has increased its plans for Paine Field to 18 flights, up from the 13 it initially planned. Alaska’s Everett destinations will be Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Orange County, California; Phoenix; Portland, Oregon; San Diego; San Francisco; and San Jose, California.

Many airplane 'pieces' - such as this 787 galley area - are delivered to the appropriate spot on the assembly line so they can be easily installed on the planes as they move through. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Many airplane 'pieces' - such as this 787 galley area - are delivered to the appropriate spot on the assembly line so they can be easily installed on the planes as they move through. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Many airplane 'pieces' - such as this 787 galley area - are delivered to the appropriate spot on the assembly line so they can be easily installed on the planes as they move through. Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

"We're tremendously honored to be a part of this historic moment with the opening of a brand new commercial airport," Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines' chief commercial officer, said in a statement. "Providing all new service from Paine Field and further expanding where we fly our guests, including from our Global Partners' major international hubs, highlights the strong growth in our region and a thriving West Coast."

Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports, the company that’s developing the new terminal there, also lauded Alaska Airlines’ schedule announcement.

"Alaska Airlines flew from Paine Field back in the 1940s and 50s. We're excited to have the airline return to Everett," Smith said in the airline’s statement. "We're ready to join with Alaska to provide terrific service to our guests."

United, which announced its Everett intentions last year, has not yet revealed a start date for its planned service. In that announcement, United said it hoped to begin flights in the fall of 2019 with a schedule of six daily flights that would split between its Denver and San Francisco hubs.

The move to bring regular airline service to Everett is part of an effort to turn it into a secondary airport for Seattle, where the region's fast-growing Seattle-Tacoma International has set numerous passenger records in recent years.

Everett flights will likely have the greatest appeal to those living north of Seattle. The Sea-Tac airport sits about 15 miles south of downtown Seattle and those coming by car from north of the city must navigate the region’s frequently clogged north-south arteries.

Paine Field, however, sits about 25 miles north of Seattle. Traffic to the airport from areas north of Seattle historically has been less-prone to congestion.

Alaska Airlines is headquartered in Seattle and operates its busiest hub at Sea-Tac, where it is the busiest carrier.

But, in its Everett announcement, Alaska touted Paine Field as a new option for its already-large customer base in greater Seattle.

"More than one million travelers who live north of Seattle will enjoy shorter commutes to Paine Field instead of heading farther south to Sea-Tac Airport," Alaska Airlines said.

Virgin America was known for its trendy and irreverent image. Every year near Christmas, the carrier performed 'Operation Chihuahua Airlift' to send rescued chihuahuas to homes on the East Coast. PR NEWSWIRE

Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden speaks to a crowd during the Alaska Airlines Plane Pull with Russell Wilson and Joel McHale at The Museum of Flight in Seattle on July 28, 2015. Matt Mills McKnight, AP Images for Alaska Airlines

Virgin America CEO David Cush, third-left front row, is applauded and showered with confetti as he rings the opening bell at the Nasdaq market to mark his company's IPO in New York on Nov. 14, 2014. Richard Drew, AP

British tycoon Richard Branson became a fixture for Virgin America at its promotional events. Here he greets staff at the airline's inaugural San Francisco-Denver flight on March 15, 2016. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

British tycoon Richard Branson became a fixture for Virgin America at its promotional events.Here he participates in festivities for the airline's inaugural San Francisco-Denver flight on March 15, 2016. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

Bearing the airline's new logo and paint scheme, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 taxies for departure in Seattle, Wash in April of 2016. Bearing the airline's new logo and paint scheme, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 taxies for departure in Seattle on April of 2016. [Via MerlinFTP Drop] Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren / Special